Blacks Don't Read

The article “They Don’t Read” was put out on the internet to gain the African Americans.   It states that blacks do not read and because of that blacks are ignorant, greedy and selfish.   However, I strongly disagree with the inaccurate opinions expressed in this article.   There are points in this the article that could be true about some blacks but they can easily be applied to any race or ethnic group.   Blacks have had to overcome many adversities amongst themselves and their slave masters.   What the writer of this article fails to mention is that blacks, as slaves, were not allowed to read.   In fact if slaves were caught reading or being taught to read, they would be beaten or even killed.   This created great animosity amongst blacks. So for the writer to boldly imply that we don’t read while having knowledge of our past obstacles during slavery and having the disadvantage in learning to read that in today’s times, we as blacks are ignorant is an unfair accusation.     In the Willie Lynch Letter, the definitive roles were determined by skin shades, age groups, and gender.   This caused blacks to have hostility among slaves rather than shift the blame to their slave masters.   Although we’ve overcome our past inhibitions, it is evidently clear that we have developed into a great race of people who are wonderful thinkers who read consistently, who are well informed and not ignorant, and who does not thrive off of greed.

First, the article points out that blacks do not read.   It is my opinion that blacks do read and they read very well.   Rather than say blacks don’t read I think it should be stated that their choice of literature, in my opinion, is more of the issue.   As some blacks have come across this letter and other reading material proves that we do stay informed through reading.   What the writer should have pointed out is that maybe some of our choice of reading material may not be the best selections but that would only apply to some lower income black areas...